Pray the Rosary

Arlene and Marta, Editors

Make it a part of your daily prayers and your life will never be the same.

The rosary is a very old form of prayer that can be defined as a
scriptural meditation. As we pray the Our Fathers and the Hail
Marys, we concentrate on the mysteries in the lives of Jesus and the
Blessed Virgin Mary. The origin of the Rosary devotion is
traditionally connected with St. Dominic who lived in Spain in the
thirteenth century. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St.
Dominic, holding a Rosary in her hand. She said that the devotion to
the Rosary would convert sinners and obtain great graces from God.
St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominican Order, taught the people
how to pray the rosary, and more than one hundred thousand were
converted. Seven centuries later in 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary
asked the children of Fatima to pray the rosary as well: "I am the
Lady of the Rosary. I have come to warn the faithful to amend their
lives and ask pardon for their sins. People must NOT continue to
offend our Lord, already so deeply offended. Pray the Rosary."In
today�s world, we find that the prayer of peace that the rosary
represents is prayed and recommended by many. Pope John Paul II
has a cassette and a CD on praying the rosary, which has become a
hot seller in the secular world. Here in our hometown of Sugar Land,

Father Roy Oggero writes:
I want to suggest praying the Rosary daily. It is the Prayer of
Peace. You can pray out anger, envy, bitterness, unforgiveness,
fear, anxiety; and the opposite of these begin to come into your
life. There is a story Father Albert Shaman, a priest of the
Rochester, New York Diocese tells. It is the story of Austria�s
great Rosary Crusade that liberated the country from Soviet
control: At the end of WW2, the victorious allies pulled out of
Austria and left it in Soviet hands. After three years of tyranny
the Austrian people could no longer bear the Communist
control. Father Peurus remembered the story of how the
Ottoman Turks were defeated at Lepanto in 1591, though the
Christians were outnumbered three to one. - The Rosary was
prayed by all the men and the Turks were defeated. So Father
Peurus called for a Rosary Crusade against the occupying
Soviets. He asked for ten percent of the population to pray the
Rosary everyday. That would be 700,000 Austrians. He got the
700,000 and for seven years the Rosary was prayed everyday.
On May 13, 1955, the anniversary of the Fatima Apparitions,
the Russians withdrew from Austria. Their evacuation made no
sense since Austria was a real war prize. To this day many
historians are baffled by the pullout. I mention this event to
simply remind us that prayer is very powerful, and especially
the Rosary. The choice to experience this power is yours and
mine. I pray all of us will say �YES� to the Holy Spirit more
often and pray the Rosary. May the Lord and Our Lady be with
our Assembly and with all our families.(1)

We need a Rosary crusade in each one of our families to defeat
and drive out the stronghold the devil has over our lives, and
the hearts and minds of our children. The rosary has helped
many lives, bringing blessing from situations which seemed
hopeless as the story, His Mother's Beads, found in A
Missionary's Notebook (2) illustrates:
I had been all evening in the confessional. At a quarter to twelve I was mounting the

stairs that led to my room, when the night bell rang. I went to the door.
"Who is there?" I asked.
"A man who must see the priest."
"But this is no time to see the priest. Is anyone sick ?"
"Yes, Father," was the answer in a sad voice. "I am worse than sick."
I opened the door and faced the speaker, a man in poor attire.
"Father," he said, "do you want to save a soul?"
Then he entered, though I had not invited him to do so.
Ordinarily such a proceeding would put me on my guard. I felt

no fear this time, and under the dim light of the hall lamp I
scrutinized the intruder. He took off his cap and I saw a white,
haggard face, unkept hair, a ragged coat and grimy hands. The
eyes were clear and earnest, and I waited to hear what should
come next.
"Father, I am a burglar and belong to an organized band. Don't
be afraid. I was once a good Catholic, but I have not
practiced my religion for years. This very night I held-up a
laboring man who I knew had received his pay. I grabbed his
throat and took from his pocket a roll of bills. Entangled with
them was a rosary. When I saw the beads I felt a shiver run
through me. My mother's face came before me. Like a flash I
thrust the money back into the man's hand and said: "You take
that; I will keep this," and before he could make an outcry I
fled down an alley to a shelter and sat down, looking at the rosary.
I saw our little house in the country and my old mother (God
rest her!) sitting in her chair on the porch with her beads in her
lap. The sun was shining and the creatures on the farm were
making their pleasant noises; but mother was looking at me. I
called out, "Do you want anything, mother?" "No, son, only that
you be a good man. I am saying my beads for you."
"Father, I heard her voice as plainly as I hear my own, and it
broke me all up. I resolved to become an honest man and see a
priest this very night. I had little hope of finding one at this late
hour, and I think God had mercy on me when He sent you to me."
"My son," I said, "do you want to go to confession?"
"That's what brought me here, Father."
I drew him into a little room where there was always a stole and
a crate, and he got on his knees and made his confession. It was
a strange scene. The darkened room, only the hall lamp dimly
burning outside; the silent house and the solemn tolling of
midnight which rang out over the city. But God's work was
accomplished, and when we stood again at the door he said:
"Father, you can trust me. I have not a cent in the world. I will
return what you will lend me next Saturday."
I put my hand in my pocket. There was nothing but a two-dollar bill.
"I am sorry I have nothing more," I said.
"It will do, Father. I will try to get work, and this will give me
lodging and meals till I do. I
will be here next Saturday. Good-night."
"God bless you, my son," I said. "Good-night." And I closed the door.
It was long before I slept. The face of the poor man was before
me, the little white rosary and the vivid picture of that old
mother in her chair on the porch seemed to follow me even as I dreamed...
"Oh, ye sainted old mothers who pray for your wandering sons,
NEVER GIVE UP. God cannot deny your prayers. THEY
WILL COME BACK, and there shall be joy in heaven over the
sinner who returns, over the sheep that was lost and is found
through your loving prayers."
Need I say that he came back the following Saturday and has
come regularly since, leading the life of a good and honest man?
The Rosary is like an umbilical cord of grace that connects my
earthly journey with my eternal family and home. Reflect on
this a minute. An umbilical cord is what connects the unborn
baby to the mother and is the vehicle by which all the
nourishment the baby needs passes. As I pray the Rosary, that
line of spiritual nourishment is open for inspiration, wisdom,
counsel and insight to direct and guide me until I depart to my
eternal home.
My devotion to the rosary began when I was a child. It was
fostered by my family praying the rosary together in the
evenings at home, on our knees. I don�t remember it being
particular spiritual. Some funny things happened as mother and
dad tried to keep us from teasing each other in order to get
through the Rosary. Yet it had a very powerful impact on my
life. I went to a Catholic school, and we prayed the rosary there.
In my small town, praying the rosary was a part of most
liturgical devotions. After I got older, I moved away and I was
confronted by many different opinions which led to confusion
and misunderstandings. At times I suffered mockery and
ridicule because of my faith. Some of these actions came from
sincere, bible-believing Christians. I began to feel
uncomfortable and intimidated. As a result, I stopped praying
the rosary and making the sign of the cross outside of church
settings except for an occasional crisis. Those outside the
church sounded so knowledgeable and so scriptural back then,
that I thought they had to know what they were talking about. I
began to pray for the Lord to show me the truth, and in earnest
began to study the scripture and my Catholic faith.
I t was after I went to a Life in the Spirit Seminar where I made
Jesus Lord of my life, when Jesus gave me back His mother
and the gift of the rosary. I have been praying it since. To me
the rosary is the most powerful source of intercessory prayer,
next to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is a biblical cord of
grace that keeps me connected to the Church and to the
sacraments that Jesus established. It has been a long journey,
but I am a Catholic today because I have tasted and seen the
truth of the faith through prayer and study. I have seen that true
devotion to Mary and the rosary always leads to Jesus,
especially to the Eucharistic table.
I believe today that there are reasons behind the historical,
traditional, scriptural collective conscience and teachings of the
Apostolic Fathers. There are valid reasons for the teachings
and practice of our faith.(3)
When I look at my rosary, the first thing I see is the crucifix
reminding me of the entire salvation message. Reflecting and
meditating on Jesus� life, death and resurrection, while praying
the rosary, is like mentally reading, and visualizing the
scriptures. The rosary to me is also like my day keeper that
helps me keep my appointments with God in prayer. It helps
me establish priorities in prayer and helps me accomplish
specific intentions. The Rosary in my hand is centering prayer.
It keeps me focused on prayer, and protects me from the many
distractions that would otherwise occupy my mind. The Rosary
helps me obey God's command to pray without ceasing. It
helps me avoid thoughts of jealousy, resentment, bitterness or
unforgiveness. It is a tool to keep my heart clean. The enemy
hates the rosary and will go to great lengths to keep us from
praying it. One time, someone came into my home and
demanded my husband to command me not to pray the rosary.
How powerful the rosary must be!
I can reflect, plan or organize my day while praying the rosary.
It only takes fifteen to twenty minutes to pray a rosary. I can
pray it in the car. I can pray it while I'm exercising. I can pray
it with a tape while I'm working. I can pray it out loud or
silently. I can pray it in thanksgiving, praise or petition. I can
pray it while I'm in the depths of despair or when I feel like
I'm on the mountain top. I can sing it or chant it. I can reach the
depth of intimacy with the Lord while praying the rosary, or I
can scratch the surface with it. It is a tool given to us by the
Blessed Virgin Mary. What I get out of it often depends on
what I put into it. The graces we receive from praying the
rosary do NOT depend upon our feelings, knowledge or
understanding of the rosary. It is God's gift. You can be a
doctor, a farmer, a priest, a nun, the Pope, a child, and you can
pray the rosary. You can be a Catholic or Protestant and pray
the rosary. God does not limit His graces. You can be a thief, a
murderer, an adulterer and begin praying the rosary sincerely
and repentantly, and God's grace will not leave you there.
There are no rules, only guidelines. You can personalize it like
"...Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for and assist ____ now
and at the hour of his death. Amen." You can pray the rosary
silently while you watch TV or a movie with your family. This
is an excellent opportunity to pray for the media and be present
to the family.
May I suggest you to pray a minimum of three, five decade
rosaries a day. If you are married pray the first rosary for
yourself. We must avail ourselves of the graces first. The
reason is the same as given by the airline stewards when they
explain what to do if the cabin pressure should change... The
oxygen mask comes down, we are to put the mask over
ourselves first and then on our children. The pressures of life
are constantly changing. We cannot help our children if we are
spiritually malnourished. So pray the first rosary for yourself.
The second rosary pray for your spouse. In praying the rosary
for your spouse, you will be healed and guarded against
resentments, bitterness and unforgiveness and your spouse will
also have the grace to face the pressures of the day. The third
rosary pray for your children. What good is it to gain the world
and lose your children spiritually, emotionally or physically? 1-
Peter 5:8 reads; �The devil is prowling around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour.� Our children need our
prayers for protection, guidance and deliverance from the ways
of this world. If you are a teenager or single, pray the first
rosary for yourself, the second one for your family, and the
third for your vocation in life. Try this for six weeks and see
the miracles that can happen. There are so many graces
available through Mary's intercession. You might say it is
asking a lot to pray three rosaries a day, but Daniel in the Old
Testament went to prayer three times a day. I really believe the
lack of prayer is what is wrong with our families today. We
spend so much time in entertainment. We don't spend enough
time on our knees. We are busy going out to eat, going to or
renting movies, playing video games, sports, reading books, or
sitting in front of the TV. We CAN make time to pray the
rosary if it is a priority in our life. It is not too much to ask
children to pray the rosary.
Our Lady appeared mostly to children and asked them to pray
many rosaries. I believe it is too much to ask children to pray
the rosary if we ourselves do not pray it. God grant us the gift
of prayer. Pray the Rosary! We are capable of doing greater
things. If I can't spend one hour a day in prayer, how am I
going to lay down my life for the Lord. Better a quick rosary
than none. It's like when my husband or my children run out the
door each morning, I would rather have a kiss on the cheek
than no kiss at all. Hopefully the grace from a quick rosary will
lead me into a more reflective one later. Do not wait until the
end of the day to pray your rosary. It is not your guardian
angel's responsibility to finish it after you fall asleep. Pray the
rosary early in your day. If you want to see the power of prayer,
I recommend you to commit yourself to pray the Rosary
Novena by Charles V. Lacy for specific intentions. You can
find this booklet in the Catholic book store. Pray 27 days in
petition and 27 days in thanksgiving along with suggested
meditations in his booklet. It is one of the most powerful
novenas you can pray. We are at war, and Scripture Eph 6:12
says, "Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the
principalities from above." Rev. 12:17 says, "Enraged at the
woman's escape, the dragon went off to make war on the rest
of her offspring on those who keep God's commandments and
give witness to Jesus." No one goes into a battle without a battle
plan. Prayer takes discipline and commitment, much like a
soldier at war. Jesus did not abandon us. He gave us everything
we need to be victorious. He has given us our Holy Father, the
Pope, to whom Jesus left His authority and voice on earth when
He said: �He who hears you hears Me.� So we must listen to
and obey the teachings of the church. He has given us His very
self in the Eucharist which is the fountain of all grace, and the
Word of God to draw his very life from. He has given us
sacraments, sacramentals, devotions, and prayers to keep us
plugged into the source of grace. He has given us His Mother
and the communion of saints to intercede and assists us.
Specifically, ask St. Michael, the Archangel, to assist you. Once
you have seen the miracles of the rosary, you will want to spend
more and more time praying it. Test it! To me the Rosary is an
umbilical cord of grace, that crushes the head of the serpent.
Buy several inexpensive rosaries and have a priest bless them.
Then if you break one or lose it, you will not be tempted to
stop praying the rosary.
When you experience a grievous offense; rejection, betrayal,
persecution or abuse, it may become difficult to pray the
rosary. Then you need to exercise your will over your
emotions. Commit yourself to persevere in praying the rosary
especially for the offender. If you still find it difficult to pray
the rosary, get a rosary tape to pray along with, until you get
through the difficult time. If the condition persists, find a friend
to pray the rosary for you, if possible with you. Go to
confession, and if necessary, to the sacrament of anointing.
Most likely this is the result of intense hurt, anger,
unforgiveness, and bitterness toward the offender or even
toward God. This condition can distort your ability to listen,
discern and obey the Will of God. It is also possible, if this
condition persists, for it to cause alienation from the one who
hurt you and alienation from the Church. Guard your heart with
all your might. Romans 12:14 reads; "Bless those who
persecute you." To me it is a matter of life or death.

"Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things. They do this to win a crown
of leaves that withers, but we a crown that is imperishable."
1 Cor 9:25

Go for the gold! Pray the rosary!
Arlene Why do I pray the Rosary?
I pray the Rosary to find peace-the peace that only God can
give. In praying the rosary, I bring my troubles to the Lord, and
very quietly I hear Him speak to me. He, the author of all said:
"Ask and you will receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and
it will be opened up to you." I experience a taste of heaven
when I pray the Rosary and think of the greatness of God. The
more I pray, the more I want to pray.

The month of October is called the month of the Rosary. This is a "spiritual intonation," so to speak, provided by the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, which is celebrated on October 7. We are thus invited to let ourselves be guided by Mary in this ancient and ever new prayer, which is especially dear to her because it leads directly to Jesus, contemplated in his mysteries of salvation: joyous, luminous, sorrowful and glorious. In the footsteps of the venerable John Paul II (cf. Apostolic Letter "Rosarium Virginis Mariae�), I would like to recall that the Rosary is a biblical prayer, completely interwoven with Sacred Scripture. It is a prayer of the heart in which the repetition of the "Hail Mary" orients one's though and affection toward Christ, and thus one confidently supplicates his Mother and ours. It is a prayer that aids meditation on the Word of God and is likened to Eucharistic communion on the model of Mary, who carries in her heart all Jesus did and said and his presence itself.